Environment

The Abel Tasman National Park

our past, present & future

The smallest and one of the most visited of New Zealand's National Parks, the Abel Tasman was named after the great Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman who anchored his ships in Wainui, Golden Bay in 1642. Populated by Maori for over 500 years and first settled by Europeans in 1855, the golden sandy beaches and granite outcrops are now enhanced by regenerating native forest. Eradicating pests and invasive plant species as well as attracting native birdlife back into this environment is a key focus of many of the tourism operators and environmental groups that work in the Park.

Project Janszoon

Project Janszoon is a privately funded trust working with the Department of Conservation, the Abel Tasman Birdsong Trust, the community and local iwi to restore the ecology of the Abel Tasman National Park over a 30-year time frame.

The trust aims to reverse the trend of ecological decline in the park by reducing predator numbers and weeds, restoring ecosystems, and re-introducing native birds, animals and plants into a thriving park environment.

Project Janszoon was launched in 2012 and will complete its work on the 100-year anniversary of the establishment of the park and 400-year anniversary of Abel Tasman’s “discovery” of New Zealand in 2042.

Abel Tasman Birdsong Trust

Abel Tasman Birdsong Trust is a partnership between:

Commercial operators

The community

Department of Conservation

To protect and enhance biodiversity and improve the visitor experience in Abel Tasman National Park. It is a Charitable Trust, formed in 2007 and registered with the NZ Charities Commission, and the Inland Revenue Department as a charity. It is separate from the Department of Conservation and commercial tourism operators in the Park, but will work closely with them and the local community, on local projects for local benefits.

The Department of Conservation

DoC runs programmes to protect and restore our species, places and heritage, and provide opportunities for people to engage with these treasures. Their work in the Abel Tasman includes managing the Coastal Track and Huts, protecting our wildlife and forest, eradicating pests and protecting this special place for future generations to enjoy.